Toy vehicle



June 26, 1951 B. TRAVIS 2,558,112

TOY VEHICLE Filed Oct. 24, 1949 w 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 e527 rem/45',

I N V EN TOR.

BY I June 26, 1951 TRAVIS 2,558,112

TOY VEHICLE Filed 001;. 24, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 seer TERI l5,

INVENTOR.

.BY I 1 Patented June 26, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENTS OFFICE TOY VEHICLE" Bert Travis, 'Whittier, Califi, assignor to Thomas M. Travis, SZndFi'ghter Squadron Jet, Hamil 7 ton AirForc'e Base-,Calif.

Application October 24, 1949, Serial No; 123,289

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in wheeled toy vehicles and similar devices and may beregarded as an improvement over the toy vehicle disclosed in my prior U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,113,750, issued April 12, 1938.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved motor employing elastic strands which can be manually Wound up to store power ultimately used in propelling the vehicle and which is characterized by havinga winding disc and a driven disc in spaced relation to each other connected by round elastic-strands. Between these discs there are drums which are independently rotatable relatively to each other and around the peripheries of these drums the strands are adapted to be helically wound in the course of tightening. These drums are of adequate diameter so that the strands will be evenly tensioned thereon and as they are independently rotatable and the strands are circular in cross section, the strands may roll onthe peripheries of the drumsso that in the course of either winding or unwindin the strands may shift or move smoothly or evenly to deliver an even or steady flowof power to the driven disc.

Another object of the invention-is to provide a means for readily winding the-elastic strand motor which is irreversible so that in the-course of manually winding the motor there is no danger of the winding crank being reversibly driven-by the motor and kicking the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple but highly eificient lock for releasably locking the driven disc against rotationby'the motor 'in the course-of winding or until such time as it isdesired to operatively connect the motor to a wheel of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple and readily adjustable speed change transmission for transmitting powerfrom the motor to a wheel of the vehicle to most advantageously employ the power of the motor to drive the vehicle at an appropriate speed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the'appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the wheeled toy vehicle embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially upon the line 3--3 upon Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the chassis of the vehicle and may be regarded as; taken substantially upon the line 4-4 upon Fig. 2; 3

Fig. 5 isa horizontal section through the'elas' tic strand-motor and may be regarded as taken upon "the line 5-5 upon Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the motor shown in Fig. 5 on asomewhat smaller scale but illustrating the motor in its fully wound condition;

Fig. 7 is a view of the lock employed for lookin the driven disc against rotation and may be regarded as taken-substantially upon the line 'i! upon Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional View taken substantially upon the line 8-8 upon Fig. 5.

Referring to the accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, the improved vehicle consists of a chassis consisting generally of a housing It) supported on transverse shaft or axles H and I2 that are rotatably'mountedon the housin as by bearings or journals 13. On theends of these axles there are ground wheels l 4.

On one end of the housing there is rotatably mounted a shaft it that can be manually rotated by means of a hand crank I6 or the equivalent. A worm H is mounted on the shaft 15 and meshes with'a worm wheel l8 that is keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft is that extends through the mentioned end of the housing. This shaft carries a winding disc 20 on the edge of which there are evenly spaced hooks 2| adapted to have positioned thereon the ends of elastic rubber strands 22. The other ends of these elastic rubber strands are positioned on similar hooks 23 on a driven disc 24 arranged remote from but in axial alignment with the winding disc 20. These strands are formed of highly elastic rubber orthe equivalentand are preferably molded. They are circular in cross-section and have eyes molded or-formed on their ends that are receivable over the hooks 2land 23.-- A shaft 25 has its ends recessed in the opposedfaces of the two discs 20 and 2d and has a series of drums 26 rotatably disposed thereon so that these drums are rotatable on the shaft independently of each other.

It will be apparent from theabove described construction that by rotating the crank 16 the winding disc 28 will be rotated relativelyto the driven disc 24, if-the driven disc is held against rotation and the stands 22 will be helicallywound and tensioned on the drums 28.- The drums c01- lectively form a cylinder of adequate diameter on which the strands can be woundandstretched'and in the course of their being wound and stretched the strands may roll-due to their circular cross sectional formation. Also-the drums may rotate independently of each other so that a smooth winding of the strandson the drums can be secured. Atany part'of the winding, if the hand crank 16 is released, theirreversible drive formed by 'the worm I? and gear 18 will prevent the Wound motor from reversibly rotating the hand 3 crank so that there is never any danger of the hand crank kicking the operator. Whenever the disc 24 is released for rotation by the stretched elastic strands 22, these strands may freely and evenly unwind and, in so doing, may

even roll on the drums 25. As these drums are independently rotatable there is no loss of power due to friction occasioned by the strands sliding rotation under the influence of the stretched] strands 22, a relatively simple but novel lock is provided as illustrated in Fig. 7, consisting of two opposed jawmembers 29 and 35 that are pivoted to each other and to the chassis of the ;vehicle at 3|. These jaw members have opposed surfaces 32 and 33 that are complementary to the non-circular portion of the shaft 28. At the outer end of the jaw member there arepivotally mounted opposed links 34 and 35 and at the outer end of the jaw member 29 there is hinged as at 35 a manual lever 31. This lever in turn is pivotally connected to the links as at 38. When the lever 31 is swung into the dotted line position as shown in Fig. '7, the jaws 29 and 38 are caused to separate from each other or open so that the surfaces 32 and 33 will be opened sufficiently wide to enable the non-circular portion of the shaft 28 to freely rotate therebetween. On the other hand when the lever 31 is swung into the full line position shown in Fig. 7, the jaws 29 and 30 are moved into mutual engagement and effectively locked in this position due to the angular relationship of the lever 31' and .the links 34 and 35. As the jaws fit the noncircular portion of the shaft they will effectively hold the shaft 28 and the driven disc 24 against rotation until it is desired to release the shaft 28. This is then accomplished by swinging the lever 21' into the full line position shown in Fig. '7.

A speed change transmission is included in the drive between the shaft 28 and the axle l i. This includes a pulley 39 mounted on the shaft 28 and anendless belt 40 which is trained over idler or guide pulleys 4!, 42, 43 and 44 to a pulley 45 on a shaft 35 extending transversely across the housing. A similar shaft 41 extends across the housing in parallel relationship to the shaft 45. The pulley 45 is integral with or rigidly attached to a larger pulley 48 and in a similar manner a series of joined small pulleys and large pulleys are mounted on the two shafts. These pulleys are connected by endless belts 5B, the arrangement being such that the rotation imparted to the pulley 45 by the belt 40 from the pulley 39 is multiplied or increased through the pulleys on the two shafts which are loosely mounted thereon. Pulley 5i constitutes the final pulley of the speed change transmission and an endless belt 52 connects this pulley with a clutch pulley 53 carrying a clutch element 54. This clutch pulley is urged into engagement with a clutch element 55 that is secured to the axle l l by means of a compression spring 56.

The clutch, made up of the clutch elements 54 and 55, is in the nature of an overrunning clutch in that it will permit the ground wheels on the axle II to rotate faster than or independently of the drive as in the case of coasting. However, whenever the driven disc 24 is released and the wheels on axle H are not rotating, or are not rotating as fast as the power supplied thereto from stretched when the winding disc 4. the motor, the clutch elements will mutually engage and automatically connect the ground wheels to the motor. A body 5? is provided arranged to telescopicallyslide and fit over the housing 18. This body may serve to confine the two shafts 4-6 and 47 in their journals on the sides of the chassis and on removal of the body either orboth of the shafts 45 and 41 can be removed and certain of the pulleys thereon reversed so as to alter the speed change transmission to supply power to the axle l l at the proper speed.

From the above described construction it will be appreciated that a novel, simple and highly advantageous toy vehicle is provided having an improved elastic strandmotor which will deliver a steady and even flow of power and involving a minimum friction loss. A. means is provided for winding the motor which is irreversible and a simple and advantageous means is provided for optionally locking the driven disc of the motor whenever it is desired to do so.

Various changes may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: v

1. In a wheeled toy vehicle, a motor comprising a winding disc, a driven disc spaced therefrom, elastic strands connecting the discs, means for turning the winding disc, means for releasably holding the driven disc so that the winding disc may be rotated relatively thereto to tension the strands, a series of independently rotatable drums between the discs about which the strands may be stretched, and means providing a driving connection between the driven disc and at least one of the wheels of the vehicle. 2. In a wheeled toy vehicle, a motor comprising a winding disc, a driven disc spaced therefrom, elastic strands connecting the discs, means for turning the winding disc, means for releasably holding the driven disc so that the winding disc may be rotated relatively thereto to tension the strands, a series of independently rotatable drums between the discs about which the strands may be stretched, and means including a speed change transmission and an overrunning clutch for connecting the driven disc to at least one of the wheels of the vehicle.

3. In a wheeled toy vehicle, a motor comprising a winding disc, a driven disc spaced therefrom, elastic strands connecting the discs, a series of independently rotatable drums between the discs about which the strands may be is turned relatively to the driven disc, and means for turning the winding disc including an irreversible worm and worm wheel.

4. In a wheeled toy vehicle, an elastic strand motor, means for winding the elastic strand motor, a driven shaft driven thereby, said driven shaft having a portion non-circular in cross section, a pair of mutually opposed jaws pivotally mounted upon the chassis of the vehicle presenting jaw surfaces complementary to the noncircular portion of the shaft, and means for swinging said jaws into mutual engagement with the non-circular portion of the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft or opening them to allow the shaft to rotate therebetween.

5. In a wheeled toy vehicle, an elastic strand motor, means for winding the elastic strand motor, a driven shaft driven thereby, said driven shaft having a portion non-circular in cross section, a pair of mutually opposed jaws pivotally 5 mounted upon the chassis of the vehicle presenting jaw surfaces complementary to the non-circular portion of the shaft, and means for swinging said jaws into mutual engagement with the non-circular portion of the shaft to prevent rotation of the shaft or opening them to allow the shaft to rotate therebetween, said means including a manual lever on one jaw, links pivotally connected to the manual lever and to the other jaw, said lever and links being so arranged as to lock the jaws against opening movement when the jaws are mutually engaged on the shaft.

6. In a wheeled toy vehicle, a motor comprising a winding disc, a driven disc spaced therefrom, elastic strands connecting the discs, means for turning the winding disc, means for releasably holding the driven disc so that the winding disc may be rotated relatively thereto to tension REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,212,787 Magidson Jan. 16, 1917 2,113,750 Travis Apr. 12, 1938 2,242,724 Kniesner May 20, 1941 

